* There are two governing documents we use for the regular season of Canyon kickball:
1) The WAKA Rule Book:
http://www.kickball.com/files/KICKBALL_OFFICIAL_RULES_2012.pdf
2) The WAKA FAQ:
http://www.kickball.com/rulesfaq/
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----- Missing A Base & Failed Tag Ups -----
If you're reffing 1st or 3rd, part of your duties are to keep your eye on the runners feet. A runner is out if they do not touch the base while rounding or they fail to tag up on a pop up,
Both of these events are called out "AFTER" the play has ended.
Missed Base:
WAKA Rule 14.2i: a runner who misses a base, as called by a Referee upon the conclusion of the play;
Failed Tag Up:
WAKA Rule 14.2m: a runner who fails to properly tag up on a caught ball, as called by a Referee upon the conclusion of the play;
Conclusion of the play means: Runners who do not touch the base or failed to tag up are considered out, but the out is not called until AFTER the play has ended. The play is NOT called dead. The ref who sees the runner miss the base or fail to tag up should alert the head ref after the play ends. The head ref then calls the runner out and analyzes the result of the play.
Some official snippets from the WAKA Rules FAQ page related to these calls:
Q: What kinds of Foul Balls can be caught for an Out? May runners tag up on such Outs?
A: All of them, except for when the ball touches a foreign object such as a batting cage or fence (13.02h). Other fouls, including kicks on or above the knee (13.02e), balls touched more than once by the kicker in the kicking box (13.02f), and balls first kicked outside the kicking box (13.02g) MAY be caught for Outs, and runners may attempt to tag up and advance on them, provided the caught ball is not in the possession of the pitcher on the mound.
Q: At what point may a runner “tag up” to advance on a caught ball?
A: The runner may tag up as of the moment the kicked ball is first touched by any fielder (10.05).
Q: When a runner is called out after a play for missing a base (see Rule 14.02l) or failing to tag up (see Rule 14.02m), and that is the 3rd out of an inning, does the call nullify any runs that scored on the play?
A: These outs are applied as of the end of the play, therefore:
On failed tag-ups: the run is nullified only if it was the scoring runner that failed to tag up.
On missed bases: the run is nullified only if it was the scoring runner that missed a base, OR if the runner that missed the base was in a force situation compelling them to reach the missed base. [Example: if a kicker never touches first base, no runners on base may score (see Rule 10.09).]
Q: Can you define “Force play situation” (see Rule 10.09)?
A: When a kicker puts a ball fairly in play and becomes a runner, this “forces” any runner on the base immediately ahead of the kicker to advance, as it does any runner on the base immediately ahead of a forced runner. Runners so forced are no longer safe on the base they originally occupied, until and unless a runner or kicker behind them is put out. Note that a runner’s requirement to tag up before advancing on a caught ball (10.05) does not constitute a “force” in this sense. When the 3rd out of an inning is made on a runner failing to tag up, that does NOT nullify any runs scored on the play prior to the out being made, unless it was the scoring runner put out in this fashion.
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----- Catcher's Position -----
Where is the Catcher allowed to stand and is he required to run through the kicking box once the ball is kicked?
There are two requirements as to where the Catcher must be located "before the ball reaches the kicker"
1) Behind the plane of the kicker
2) Within the width of the kicking box cones (Left-to-Right)
The catcher is not required to run through the kicking box once the ball is kicked, but they must be inside the width of the kicking box up to the point until the ball reaches the kicker.
What penalty(s) apply here?
A catcher who is either forward the plane of the kicker or outside the width of the kicking box (left-to-right) before the ball reaches the kicker is guilty of a position violation (formerly known as encroachment). A teams first violation is a warning, and any ensuing play that occurs stands as is. Second and subsequent infractions are awarded a free base to the kicker with any ensuing play to be called dead no matter what the outcome. Yes, this means that if a 2nd position infraction occurs at the same time a 3-run home run was kicked, the play is dead, runners called back on base with no runs scoring, and you would then have bases loaded.
Rules & FAQ's related to Catcher position:
8.02 Proper Field Position must be maintained by all fielders while a pitch is in progress, and until the pitched ball reaches the kicker. Failure to be properly positioned will result in a Position Warning to the team that caused the infraction. The team's second and each subsequent Position infraction by that team that game will result in the kicker being awarded first base regardless of the outcome of the kick.
c. for Catchers:
- The catcher must be positioned within or directly behind the kicking box and behind the horizontal plane of the kicker, parallel to the front edge of home plate.
- The catcher may not make contact with the kicker, nor position so closely to the kicker as to restrict the kicking motion.
- The kicker may not trigger a position violation through maneuvers judged by the Ref to be deliberately tricky or unsportsmanlike.
Q: Are catchers required to line up "single file" behind the kicker?
A: No - to maintain "Proper Field Position" per Rule 8.02c, the catcher is required to be behind the plane of the kicker's body, but may be off to either side, as long as the catcher remains within or behind the kicking box.
Q: If the kicker lines up behind the kicking box, is the catcher also required to remain behind the kicker? Or may the catcher line up at the back of the kicking box, in front of the kicker?
A: The catcher must begin and remain behind the plane of the kicker, wherever the kicker lines up (8.02c). (Exception: when a shallow batting cage or similar obstruction allows no room for a catcher to be behind a kicker, then the catcher may line up alongside the kicker, as long as the catcher allows the kicker to move forward first.)
Q: If the kicker lines up to the side of the kicking box, must the catcher also do so?
A: No - the catcher must always remain within or directly behind the kicking box (i.e., between the cones that define the back corners of the box), and behind the plane of the kicker (8.02c).
Q: Once the pitch is being delivered, may the catcher move up alongside the kicker as long as he doesn't pass the kicker?
A: No - the catcher must remain behind the plane of the kicker until the ball reaches the kicker (8.02c).
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----- OBSTRUCTION -----
What is it: Obstruction is when a fielder, who is not making an "active" play on the ball, obstructs (i.e. gets in the way) of a runner and hinders his or her advancement to the base they are heading towards.
Example #1: There is a runner on 1st, the ball is kicked up the foul line and picked up by crasher. The 2nd baseman moves over and has his entire body on top of the base waiting for the ball to be thrown to them for a force out. The runner coming from first has to slow down in order to avoid colliding with the fielder. The play is close but the runner is out. The ref now decides whether or not the runner having to slow down (i.e. was hindered) was enough for that out to occur. If so then the runner is to be called safe, if not then the out stands.
Note: A fielder standing on the base who is waiting for the ball to be thrown to them is not considered an "active" play. An active play is when the fielder is in motion while trying to get to the ball.
Example #2: Runner on 1st, ball is bunted to crasher who throws to 1st for the out. The runner going from 1st to 2nd decides to try for 3rd and makes a wide arc while rounding the base. The Left Rover is standing in the base path and the runner collides. The runner falls to the ground and is tagged out trying to make it back to 2nd. The ref would call this runner safe, and move him to 3rd base since that is where he was heading at the time of impact.
Example #3: The ball is deep into outfield. A runner is rounding 2nd, collides with the left rover, then safely makes his way back to 2nd base. The ref can make a judgement call as to whether or not the runner could have made it home due to the ball being deep into outfield. If so then two bases can be awarded the runner due to obstruction.
What obstruction is NOT: Actions such as running to pick up a grounder, moving off 1st base to catch an overthrown ball, running across the base path to field a pop up, etc. are all examples of an active play. A fielder who collides with a runner under these conditions is not guilty of obstruction.
Here are the official WAKA rules & FAQ:
10.02 Obstruction. Fielders must stay out of the baseline. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the baseline. Runners hindered by any fielder within the baseline, not making an active play for the ball, shall be safe at the base to which they were running. Runners may choose to advance beyond this base while the ball is still in play.
Q: What advice can you give to Referees on the correct application of Obstruction calls (Rule 10.02) and Baseline violations (Rule 10.01)?
A: Remember that the baseline is not always a straight line between two bases, but is determined by the route the runner takes.
A fielder possessing or actively receiving the ball cannot be guilty of Obstruction.
Neither type of infraction immediately ends the play, though they can be called after the conclusion of the play.
Runners that choose to advance beyond an awarded base while the play is still in progress do so at their own risk.
Refs may award an additional base beyond the one the runner is obstructed from reaching, if the Ref feels that deliberate and unsportsmanlike Obstruction alone has prevented an uncontested advance.
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